DNA and OFA health tested and passing parents. Potty training and crate training started. Preregistered in the Kennel Club and microchip preregistered with AKC ReUnite. Lifetime refund % according to age and situation. Details and contract at MountainPassBarn.com
Meet The Breeder
I combine health testing with temperament and trait selection to create the ideal fluffy companion. DNA testing and OFA health certificates ensure the healthiest pups possible. Hair texture selection allows for easier grooming with less knots and matting. Parents are chosen based on correct body composition for good movement. I keep and move forward with those that are smart and outgoing and always friendly. Reviews are screenshots in the pictures section. AKC preregistered as well as microchipped and preregistered with AKC ReUnite. DNA tested parents in good standing with no transfer of disease. OFA tested and registered parents in good standing all average or better. An extended refund option if it doesn't work out for the entire life of the dog in percentage increments according to the dog's age. 30 days free insurance. Vaccinated with DHPP. Exam by a veterinarian. A go home bag with a toy, chew, Purina Pro Plan all life stages kibble, a leash and collar/harness, book. Potty trained to outside concrete and pine pellet litter box as well as the Brilliant Pad. I also work on confined crate training and car rides. Grooming, bathes, nails, feet and fanny trimming. Please see my website for more details and contract at mountainpassbarn.com I started collecting the neighborhood dogs that roamed by the age of 7. My grandparents got me a miniature poodle so I would quit embarrassing them I suppose. We played soccer together, spent all day until the sun set walking the cow pastures, and jumping boxwood hedges on her leash like a horse in the steeplechase. Watching the jumping competitions makes me lean forward in my seat taking the jumps with them. The smell of a horse barn is the best perfume ever. I moved on to horses, found a 4 yr old who was a lazy lesson horse, perfect for kids. He moved in with my grandparents and then me when I got my small farm and he died here at 26 years old. Honestly neither one of us had much potential for the show ring but we probably could have done better to stay at the lesson barn, turned out he was blind in one eye anyway. I have always loved animal behavior, studied it as much as I could, and was in awe of Jane Goodall. I have bred chickens - banty's are better broodies, and rabbits in a warren type setup in the past as I was really into raising our own food. Of course, I had many dogs throughout my life, poodles were my grandpa's favorite, shelties were my grandma's favorite, I tried a shnoodle (schnauzer mix) for a short time, later we got a farm aussie, a beagle for short time as they won't be pulled off a rabbit. Note that many in my family believe that dogs should be allowed to roam like the old days so it doesn't always work out. All those dogs of my past had other's in my family making the rules. The shih tzu is the first dog that was truly my choice and under my rules. I chose small because I have arthritis in my spine and knee and I was embarking on a journey through 4 surgeries in 4 years and needed a buddy to sit with me that I wouldn't feel guilty about not walking them. My son chose dalmatians, but I do like them and they are a bit like horses in their handling so that is familiar enough. I recently gave up on trying to ride and sold the horse, obviously I had more than one since my first died in 2011. I considered breeding sheep but my body can only wrangle a 20 - 40 pound beast. So here I am. I enjoy breeding, my husband was tired of farm work and butchering and I can't afford a farm hand. I was also inspired because my grandparents kept getting dogs that needed extensive vet care and I thought why are there so many unhealthy animals out there. I now realize it may be because they weren't willing to pay for quality as we come from people who think animals should be free. The saying "don't look a gift horse in the mouth" is about expensive vet care for that 'free' animal. I am doing this because I enjoy hobby breeding. I hadn't really considered showing at first, I had never been to a dog show. Didn't know what 4-H was until I had kids. My people watch things on tv, not do the activity, reclusive homebodies really. But I also want to be respected as a breeder and at first thought DNA was enough, then OFA's, and now I have to succeed in the conformation ring if I want to be respected by all. I like the striving for excellence and I am competitive at such things. In school finishing tests where a race for me, Tasha did always beat me by a minute, I was a solid second though. I graduated from an associate's degree cum laude when both my kids where under 5 years old. Besides I need to reinvent myself after early retirement from being a dental hygienist due to neck surgery. I thought it would be a reason to travel, a destination with purpose, a way to meet people that are into things I like to talk about. Also I do need something to do for enough money to pay for my travel with my limited skill set and limited physical input. My days of muscling it are over, one false move and I am out with a bad back for a week. The go home bag, registrations, medicines, special foods, vet care of pups and momma add up to a $750 value that most don't provide and sometimes there is only 1 pup, on average I might get 3 shih's. That doesn't account for the cost of operation adding up to $4000 per dog every year on average without accounting for my time or facility improvements. Because I follow the guidelines of ethical breeding practices, I only have a small handful of pups per year and my costs are greater with all the upfront OFA certifications and health testing. If you don't want a puppy mill dog then this is how much it costs, those who charge less should re-evaluate their expenses and make sure they aren't leaving out cost like laundry, utilities, equipment, a tax professional, sales taxes, grooming expenses, etc. never mind the sleepless week of a needy clingy momma in pre-labor, labor, post labor listening for any whimper that needs immediate attention... and that's just the beginning.
Pricing
My Dogs
Health Clearances
ACVO Eye Exam BAER Test Cardiac Evaluation Patellar Luxation